Daisuke Matsuzaka strong in rehab start for Pawtucket Red Sox

PAWTUCKET, R.I.—Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed 4 2-3 scoreless innings Monday night for Triple-A Pawtucket in the third of his scheduled five rehab starts.

Matsuzaka, whose start was pushed back three days because of a neck injury, is working his way back to the Boston Red Sox after undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 10.

The right-hander threw 49 of his 87 pitches for strikes, allowing two hits, walking three and striking out four. He left with runners on first and second and two out in the fifth inning of a scoreless game after yielding a long double and issuing a walk.

Matsuzaka pitched four innings and gave up three runs for Class-A Salem on April 23 before going 4 2-3 innings and allowing one run for Double-A Portland five days later.